A bike stem is an important component of a bicycle, and choosing a bike stem length can help position technical aspects of your ride involving reach and bike control. Elongating your bike stem length is a technique that road bike users opt for to lengthen their reach and improve their positioning whilst riding. Choosing a shorter bike stem is beneficial for those who prefer the tricky terrain of trails on MTB bikes, as the distance between the body and the handlebars is shorter, making for quicker steering and precision.
A quill stem is an L-shaped component that slides into a steerer tube and is secured by an expander or a wedge that can be tightened using a top bolt. This is then attached to the handlebar using the other clamp or a faceplate. The advantage of using a quill stem on a bike is that you can adjust the height easily by inserting more stem into the steerer tube before tightening or less if you would like to lower the height.
